Robin Shou

Robin Shou
Shou in 2004
Born
Shou Wan-por (仇雲波)

(1960-07-17) July 17, 1960 (age 64)
Other namesWai Lung (威龍, his Cantonese screen name during his Hong Kong acting career. His screen name means "mighty/powerful dragon".)
Alma materCalifornia State University, Los Angeles
Occupation(s)Martial artist, actor
Years active1987—present
StyleKenpo, Wu Shu, Karate

Shou Wan-por (Chinese: 仇雲波, born July 17, 1960), known professionally as Robin Shou, is a Hong Kong-American actor, martial artist and stuntman. Born in British Hong Kong but raised in Los Angeles, Shou's interest in martial arts developed during his years as a University student. This led him to win several martial arts championships, both in China and the United States. He entered the Hong Kong film industry as a stuntman in the late 1980's, and went on to star in films such as City War (1988), Tiger Cage 2, Fatal Termination (both 1990), and Bloody Mary Killer (1993).

His first dramatic role was in the American television film Forbidden Nights (1990) with Melissa Gilbert, in which he portrayed Liang Heng.[1] In 1994, Shou landed his first American leading role as Liu Kang in the martial arts fantasy action film Mortal Kombat (1995). He reprised the role in the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation. That same year, he appeared alongside Chris Farley as Gobei in the action comedy film Beverly Hills Ninja. In 2003, he directed the documentary film Red Trousers - The Life of the Hong Kong Stuntmen. In 2006, he appeared in DOA: Dead or Alive. He went on to play Gen in the American action film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), and 14K in the Death Race film series (2008-2013).

His voice acting work includes the video game Sleeping Dogs (2012), for which he provided the voices of Conroy Wu and Roland Ho.

Biography

Shou's interest in martial arts developed during his years as a University student. He began practising wushu after watching Jet Li's film Shaolin Temple. He soon became a Hong Kong stuntman.[2]

As a martial artist, Shou was an International Forms Champion in 1982 and 1983 and he won several gold and silver medals at prestigious competitions in China. He was also a traditional forms Grand Champion in California.[3]

Shou's first dramatic role was in Forbidden Nights in 1990, with Melissa Gilbert. Though only a TV film, this was his American debut. However, Shou went back to Hong Kong and continued making movies there such as Tiger Cage 2 and Fatal Termination. In 1994, Shou returned to Los Angeles when he landed his first American leading role as Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat (1995), based on the popular video game of the same name. He reprised the role in the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation. That same year, he appeared opposite Chris Farley in the action comedy Beverly Hills Ninja.

Shou also appeared in a minor role in another fighting video game adaptation, DOA: Dead or Alive, based on Tecmo's video game series of the same name, produced by Mortal Kombat director Paul W. S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt. He played 14K in the Death Race series, and also appeared as Gen in 2009's Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Shou trained Milla Jovovich for her role in Resident Evil.[4]

He is fluent in English in addition to his native Chinese.[5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Big Brother Robin
1988 City War Killer
1989 Death Cage Lan-si Han
1990 Tiger Cage 2 Waise Chow as Robin Chou
Fatal Termination Wai Loong
1991 Eastern Heroes Hawk
1992 Interpol Connection
Magdaleno Orbos: Sa Kuko ng Mga Lawin
Black Cat II Robin
1993 Bloody Mary Killer
1994 The Most Wanted Gang leader
1995 Mortal Kombat Liu Kang Shou's Hollywood big screen debut and his second American movie
1997 Mortal Kombat Annihilation Liu Kang
Beverly Hills Ninja Gobei
2003 Red Trousers - The Life of the Hong Kong Stuntmen Evan
Narrator
Himself
Director
2006 18 Fingers of Death! Jackie Chong
DOA: Dead or Alive Pirate Senior
2008 Death Race 14K
2009 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Gen
2010 Death Race 2 14K
2011 Mortal Enemies Sunny
2013 Death Race 3: Inferno 14K
2014 Black Tiger: Hunter Hunted Pacific "Pac" Fong / Black Tiger Short film
2015 Earthbound Short film, director
TBD Dead Mule Suitcase Jack Lam Director

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Yellowthread Street Tony Siu Episode: "The Red Pole"
Forbidden Nights Liang Heng Television film
1992 Soldier Soldier Journalist Feng Episode: "Lost and Found"
1998 The Outer Limits Major Ronald Neguchi Episode: "Nightmare"
2009 Cold Case Bo-Lin Chen (1983) Episode: "Chinatown"
TBD Way of the Empty Hand Boss Television film, (post-production)

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Sleeping Dogs Conroy Wu / Roland Ho Voice

References

  1. ^ https://kungfukingdom.com/profile-of-robin-shou/amp/
  2. ^ "Profile of Robin Shou". 19 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Robin Shou". 30 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Street Fighter Series | CAPCOM". www.streetfighter.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009.
  5. ^ "0516 好萊塢資深演員仇雲波1". YouTube.